JURORS in the murder trial of a Chester doorman have visited the house where he was allegedly shot and stabbed to death.
Thomas Martin Ithell, 49, of Robinsons Croft, Boughton Heath, died after being shot through the heart and stabbed nine times in the neck, a court has been told.
His body was later found in the back of a car parked outside a police station.
Lovers Scott Davidson, 23, of Hawthorne Road, Frodsham and Rachael Hanna Horton, 19, of Hawthorn Road, Little Sutton, both deny murder.
In the second day of the trial at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, prosecuting barrister Michael Chambers QC said the defendants had committed murder after becoming “increasingly concerned” about thousands of pounds they owed Mr Ithell.
The couple, who were engaged to be married at the time of the incident, had first decided to frighten Mr Ithell by producing a gun. Mr Chambers said on Monday, March 7, Davidson went to Mr Ithell’s house after "falsely" claiming he had £5,000 of the debt to pay back.
“Martin Ithell’s girlfriend Sarah Potbury describes Davidson as behaving oddly,” said Mr Chambers.
“He had a number of bags with him. He had an imitation gun but lost his nerve before producing it.”
Davidson then “pretended to be surprised” and said the £5,000 which had been in his bag was missing.
“After he left Robinson’s Croft Davidson went to see Horton and went to spend the night with her,” said Mr Chambers.
“The one thing that was uppermost on the minds of the defendants was how they were going to repay this debt.”
Davidson later contacted Mr Ithell to say Horton’s house had been burgled and the money was gone. However, the next day Davidson admitted to Mr Ithell the burglary story had been untrue.
Mr Chambers said: “During that day Martin Ithell really started putting the pressure on the repayment. On the Tuesday you can see there are attempts of calls on 50 occasions. It is apparent Davidson is avoiding Mr Ithell.”
Later that day Davidson spoke to his friend Rob Hughes to see if he could borrow the money from him.
“Rob Hughes said, ‘Well I don’t have that sort of money’, but said a former business associate owed him £4,000. If he could get it then Davidson could have it.”
Meanwhile, Mr Ithell demanded Davidson give him £5,000 in cash and a log book for his newly bought Subaru Impreza.
Mr Chambers said Davidson then went to the Olive Grove to demand the money from Mr Hughes’ friend, putting his hand down his trousers as though he was carrying a gun. However, the friend was unable to produce the money and Davidson left empty-handed.
“We say this is relevant because it shows Davidson had been behaving recklessly,” said Mr Chambers.
“On the Wednesday Horton and Davidson are desperate and they had no way of getting any money.
“If they kill Martin Ithell they could kill the debt and move forward in their lives together.”
Davidson went to his father’s house in Elton to get a shotgun and he “must have practiced shooting because police later found three used cartridges” as well as a number of unused cartridges, said Mr Chambers.
CCTV also observed the couple buying masonry paint and plastic sheets at a decorating shop in Boughton and then later filling a can of petrol at a service station.
Mr Chambers said the defendants’ plan was to tell Mr Ithell they had obtained the money from friends in Liverpool but they had to give over their car for security.
“Davidson would shoot him in the heart at close range and Horton would stab him,” said Mr Chambers.
“After first removing all personal effects, Davidson would take Mr Ithell’s body away in the car he had arrived in.
“Horton would drive to meet Davidson in a remote location. They would torch the vehicle and then would return in the Astra. If asked they would say Martin Ithell had come at the house and left.”
On the Wednesday night the couple had also decided to smash one of the windows of Mr Ithell’s BMW to give the appearance he had enemies “so blame would be elsewhere”. However, investigators later found fragments of glass in Davidson’s house and the hammer.
On Friday, March 11, Mr Ithell was told to go to Davidson's house to collect the money. He also asked if he could bring Ms Potbury with him, added Mr Chambers.
“Davidson said no. Although Martin Ithell agreed to this he was worried about the reference to Liverpool lads. He was afraid he would be stopped and robbed.”
Two friends of Mr Ithell’s, Paul Murphy and Tony O’Donnell, accompanied Mr Ithell in a separate car parked and they were able to listen via a blue tooth earpiece. They heard Mr Ithell ask how the couple was doing before the line suddenly went blank.
The trial continues.